The road to the first Hockey 5s World Cup begins its journey this year, Covid permitting, with the first European events planned in July.
The European Hockey Federation has launched three elite Hockey 5s tournaments to its calendar, set for this summer after each continent was asked by the FIH to organise events to determine the first senior rankings.
In a release, the EHF stated that nations could use the 2021 events “as a test to see if they would like it.” The shortened outdoor format has previously been focused on the junior game.
The number of teams and qualification system for the FIH Hockey5s World Cup has not yet been determined by FIH.
Hockey 5s is also set to make an appearance in Lausanne, Switzerland in July with the EuroHockey Youth Championships, while there are also plans in September for an FIH-led international event, details of which will be revealed shortly.
It is anticipated that the summer of 2022 will see the first EuroHockey5s Championships where countries can qualify for the 2023 World Cups.
2021 EuroHockey5s Tournaments
EuroHockey5s Men’s Tournament A, Ukraine, 8-10 July 2021
Teams: BLR, BUL, ESP, NED, POL, SUI, TUR, UKR
EuroHockey5s Men’s Tournament B, Slovenia, 8-10 July 2021
Teams: AUT, BEL, CRO, CYP, ENG, RUS, SCO, SLO
EuroHockey5s Women’s Tournament, Poland, 7-10 July 2021
Teams: AUT, BEL, BLR, CRO, ENG, ESP, NED, POL, POR, RUS, SCO, SUI, TUR, UKR, WAL
The FIH will be promoting Hockey5s as a complementary version of the sport to 11-a-side hockey
Hockey 5s: 3 to know
Hockey5s is designed to be adaptable to the available facilities and for players of all ages and abilities.
If the playing area is less than specified in the FIH Hockey 5 rules, it might be appropriate to play with only four players of each team on the court and no boundary boards.
A goalkeeper is required in the rules but, if necessary and appropriate, the game could be played only with field players.
